China 'need not fear' Aus-US link

China need not fear Aus-US link - The West Australian

Australia and the United States have moved to reassure China it has no reason for concern over moves to expand US use of Australian defence bases.

The program started this year with the initial group of 200 US Marines training in northern Australia and will now move to greater US use of Australian air bases and, eventually, the naval base at HMAS Stirling and other navy bases.

In a communique released at the close of the annual Australia-US Ministerial (AUSMIN) consultations in Perth, Australia and the US outlined plans to boost their bilateral defence co-operation.

The two allies also affirmed their intent to keep building co-operative, positive and comprehensive relations with China, including strengthened military-to-military ties.

China would be encouraged to adopt greater transparency in the ongoing modernisation of its military forces.

"There is no language of containment in this, but we both welcome China's role as a responsible member of the international community," Foreign Minister Bob Carr told reporters.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the Pacific was big enough for all.

She said the US and Australia had been close allies and friends for decades.

"By the same token we both recognise that increased co-operation with China is mutually beneficial. So this is not a zero-sum competition," she said.

"Rather it is up to the US and Australia to lead the way in demonstrating that the strong relationship between us can also help foster strong, healthy relations with China because the entire region will benefit from a peaceful rise of China."

Defence Minister Stephen Smith said another 200 Marines would train in Australia next year, with the number rising to 1100 in 2014 and eventually a full Marine brigade of 2500 in 2016.

He said discussions had now started on expanding US use of RAAF bases at Darwin and Tindal in the Northern Territory.

"We have also started a conversation on the potential for enhanced naval access, to our Indian Ocean port, but also to other naval ports," he said.

"We have commissioned a joint study. We see that very much as third cab off the rank, a number of years away. The importance of HMAS Stirling will rise and increase as India rises in strategic influence and the Indian Ocean and Indian Ocean rim also rises."

Australia and the US also agreed to move forward on plans to deal with the increasing amount of orbiting space junk that imperils communication and other satellites.

Under a deal signed at AUSMIN, a US space surveillance radar will be relocated from Antigua to the Harold E Holt communications base in Western Australia.

US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said the US and Australia had agreed to build on the success of the initial Marine deployment.

"And we will. And we also agreed to move forward with all due deliberate speed with the further implementation of this important initiative that fosters great cooperation between our forces," he said.

Mr Panetta said the US had made clear its plan to restore a strategic focus on the Pacific.

"We simply would not be able to do that effectively without allies like Australia," he said.